Chains of KP, Semi-infinite 1-Toda Lattice Hierarchy and Kontsevich Integral

There are well-known constructions of integrable systems which are chains of infinitely many copies of the equations of the KP hierarchy ``glued'' together with some additional variables, e.g., the modified KP hierarchy. Another interpretation of the latter, in terms of infinite matrices, is called the 1-Toda lattice hierarchy. One way infinite reduction of this hierarchy has all solutions in the form of sequences of expanding Wronskians. We define another chain of the KP equations, also with solutions of the Wronsksian type, which is characterized by the property to stabilize with respect to a gradation. Under some constraints imposed, the tau functions of the chain are the tau functions associated with the Kontsevich integrals.Comment: LaTeX, 15 page

On the constrained KP hierarchy

An explanation for the so-called constrained hierarhies is presented by linking them with the symmetries of the KP hierarchy. While the existence of ordinary symmetries (belonging to the hierarchy) allows one to reduce the KP hierarchy to the KdV hierarchies, the existence of additional symmetries allows to reduce KP to the constrained KP.Comment: 7pp, LaTe

Why the general Zakharov-Shabat equations form a hierarchy?

The totality of all Zakharov-Shabat equations (ZS), i.e., zero-curvature equations with rational dependence on a spectral parameter, if properly defined, can be considered as a hierarchy. The latter means a collection of commuting vector fields in the same phase space. Further properties of the hierarchy are discussed, such as additional symmetries, an analogue to the string equation, a Grassmannian related to the ZS hierarchy, and a Grassmannian definition of soliton solutions.Comment: 13p